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Let's face it, how often in your life are you
privvy to being able to view a goggle eyed German man in a large black
hat, slicing and disecting fresh human corpses in the name of
Edu-tainment. That's right - he's named it. Educational entertainment,
in which deceased corpses (who have been questionably obtained for the
record) are skinned, poked proded and pulsated in front of a live
studio audience. If Channel Seven ever wondered what was missing
from You May Be Right
(besides a competent host who isn't a giant tool) - perhaps they should
have chucked in a couple of metres of bare instestine, because you
simply cannot turn away from Anatomy For Beginners.
Controversial anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens
lays bare the intricacy and beauty of the human design and lifts the
lid on the mysteries of our own bodies. At the heart of each programme
is a human dissection, with a lamens terms commentary by pathologist
Professor John A. Lee. It's weird - much like watching a scene from Hostel or Se7en being performed live, except with Bruce McCavaney screaming out "What a Speeeecial disection" every now and then.
The idea for the program stems from Dr. Gunther
von Hagens controversial "Human Art" shows which were a culmination of
years of creating live human body sculptures. Using a hybrid plastic,
Hagen was able to create some of the most unique anatomy models that
have ever existed and put them on show - at a price.
The question is, at what point do we draw the
line? At what point does education and learning become exploitation of
people who, may or may not have, agreed to have their bodies defiled?
Whatever you particular stance on the issue, it
doesn't change the fact that this is simply the most bizarre - must
watch - viewing you are ever likely to sit through. Forget those half
arsed "BBC The Human Body" CGI recreations to keep you informed, leave
it to an actual deceased fetus inform you of the process of conception!
EXTRAS
This 2 Disc DVD includes all four episodes
explaining movement, circulation, digestion and reproduction, each
centering on a live public autopsy as well as a facinating 50 minute
documentary entitled "The Anatomists: Gunther von Hagens".
The documentary is worth the purchase price alone
as it attempts to explain Dr. Von Hagens controversial Body Worlds
exhibition and public autopsy, tracing the history of anatomy, the
depiction of the body in art and the use of dissection to entertain as
well as to further medical science.
Keep an eye out for the good doctor's tendency to
nude-up for a mardi gras, his collection of platicised legs, pigs and
pies - and most disturbingly - his hidden lab in which he experimented
in long before he was given any funding (essentially, just a nut case
in a dark room cutting up human bodies that don't belong to him).
Astonishing.
Conclusion:
Movie 90% Extras: 85%
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